Electric snap plug



Feb 19 9, 1924!,

G. A. HANSBROUGH ELECTRIC SNAP PLUG Filed May 20, 1920 INVENTOR 3?! in ATTORNEYS.

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GEORGE A. IBIANSBROUGH, 015' SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOIR 015' @IJIE-HALF T BAYLIES C. CLARK, 015' SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRIC SNAP PLUG.

Application filed may 20, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Greener A. HANS- nnoncrr, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco, State of'California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Snap Plugs, of which the following is a specification.

My plug has for its object means where by it may be quickly inserted in an electric socket of standard form without rotation and twisting of cord connections, and may thereafter be held firmly clamped in electrical contact with corresponding terminals within the socket to maintain an electric service connection therethrough.

Upon referring to the accompanying drawings my invention will be made clear.

Figure 1 is a view of my plug in place in a socket of standard form with certain of the parts of the socket broken away to show the manner of connection between the plug and socket.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of my plug and at right angles to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section'through one form of my plug.

Fig. 4: is a cross section through an alternate form.

Throughout the figures similar numbers refer to identical parts.

The base or insulated block in which the parts are assembled is indicated by the numeral 1 which is suitably formed for receiving the various parts and may be of molded porcelain or bakelite, or other similar material, and is adapted to be connected with a suitable electric service connection as indicated by the cords 2, 3, which latter are in electrical communication through the conductors 4L and 5 respectively to the central contact 6 and the segments 7 and 8 respectively. The latter segments 7 and 8 are mounted upon members 9 and 10, which in the form shown in Fig. 3 are pivoted with a central pivot 11 to the base 1. A spring is provided as at 12. normally forcing apart the finger pieces 13 and 14:, which are pivoted to the members 9 and respectively, and through which the segments 7 and 8 may be forced in their contracted position. The contact 6 is under the action of the spring 15 which latter normally forces outwardv the contact 6, such that upon inserting Serial 1110. 382,753.

the plug within the socket 16 the spring 15 is compressed and the contact 6 is retained n electrical engagement with a corresponding contact 17 within the socket 16. During the insertion of the plug, the finger members 13 and 14- are compressed, contracting the segments 7 and 8, and when the contact 6 1s suitably compressed the finger pieces are released and the serrated or threaded surface of the segments 7 and 8 then engage the corresponding surface 19 within the socket 16, and the plug is held firmly in place under the action of the springs 12 and 15 and in electrical series, such that the cords 2 and 3 are n effect a continuation of the electric terminals 20-21 of the socket 16.

In the alternate construction shown in Fig. 4, the finger pieces 13 and 14 act directly against the members 10 and 11, which latter are made of spring material and normally retain the segments 7 and 8 in expanded position, and upon compressingthe pieces '13 and 1d the segments 7 and 8 are then contracted until the plug is inserted, and are thereafter released when the segments 7 and 8 engage the serrated surface 19 withinthe plug 16, thereafter establishing a continuity of the electrical connection from the cords 20-21, the cords 2 and 3.

Reference is herein made to my co-pending application, Serial No. 382,752 filed I May 20th, 1920.

I claim:

1. An electric-plug comprising a plurality of externally threaded segments, a pair of members crossing each other substantially at their centers, a pivot passing through said crossed portions, each of said members carrying one of said segments on one end, a

casing enclosing said members and having oppositely disposed holes therethrough, spring means adapted to force the segments outward," a pair of finger piecesextending through each of said holes and each engaging the inner end of one of said pivot members and operable from the outside by finger pressure to collapse said segments.

2. An electric plug'comprising a plurality of externally threaded segments, a pair of members crossing each other substantially at their centers, a pivot passing througlrsaid crossed portions, each of said members carrying one of said segments on one end, a casing enclosing said members and having I oppositely disposed holes therethroungh, central contact fixed to said casing and bespring means adapted to force the segments tween sard segments. outward, a pair of finger pieces extending In testlmony whereof, I have hereunto set through each of-said holes and each. engagmy hand at San Francisco, Gelifornie, May,

5 ing the inner end. of one of said ivot mem- 1920- bers and operable from the outsi e by fin er pressure to collapse sefl segments, an a GEORGE A. HANSBROUGH. 

